Applied Maths

Advice for Parents

        Parents often ask me, “What is Applied maths?” It is a subject which you can study for the Leaving Cert but not the Junior Cert. It consists of problems – mostly from mechanics (a branch of physics).

        Applied Maths is a wonderful subject which gives students the skill of problem-solving, using maths as the only tool. The skills which this gives to students are useful for life – no matter what they study or work at later (engineering, architecture, medicine, maths, science, law, arts – whatever!).

        Applied Maths is for life – not just for the Leaving Cert. It goes very well alongside Maths, because it’s all about problem-solving (which is a key part of Leaving Cert Maths).

        Parents sometimes ask me, “My son/daughter is doing Maths and Physics – could (s)he sit the Applied Maths exam?” The answer is “No, not unless (s)he prepares for Applied Maths also.” The reason is that Physics requires experiments and only a little Maths. Applied Maths requires thinking, understanding of concepts, no experiments and a lot of maths. The approach is very different: the mathematics gets much deeper and more tricky in Applied Maths, and the student has to practise for this.

        In 2021 a new Applied Maths syllabus was introduced, fit for the 21st century.  It is a wonderful mix of traditional mechanics, such as Newton’s Laws of Motion, and cool new stuff on Networks and Graphs which involves algorithms and thinking very like the thinking involved in coding.  If your child likes coding, they’ll like the new course.

The Third Edition of Oliver Murphy’s best-selling textbook ‘Fundamental Applied Maths’ covers the new course thoroughly.  It is used in almost 100% of schools, as well as by students who study Applied Maths outside the timetable or on their own.

Students will have to submit a Project as part of the new course.  It carries 20% of the marks.  The exam will carry the remaining 80%.  In the new exam, students will to do ALL questions.  This means that students will have to cover all the course. 
        

SAMPLE and PAST LEAVING CERT HIGHER APPLIED MATHS PAPERS

A book containing seven sample and past papers as well as seven projects is available through Folens from September 2024. It contains detailed advice about marks, doing the project, revising and doing the exam. There is also a breakdown (topic-by-topic) of what turned up in all of the papers. Finally, we have the answers (but not solutions) to all of the questions.

The booklet is nearly 300 pages long and uses the precise format as used in the Leaving Cert (with space for the students to write their solutions). Each of the papers has 10 questions (of which students have to do eight) – as will happen in 2025. You can purchase copies of this book through Folens.